coincidence
/kəʊˈɪnsɪdəns/ (bre, ipa) · /kəʊˈɪnsɪdəns/ (ame, ipa) · /kō-ˈin(t)-sə-dən(t)s -sə-ˌden(t)s/ (ame, mw)
coincidence — noun
- coincidencesingular
- coincidencesplural
1. an unexpected situation in which two or more unconnected events occur at the sam
an unexpected situation in which two or more unconnected events occur at the same moment, making it seem as though they are related.
By pure coincidence, Aiko and her brother chose the same birthday card for their mother.
collocation: pure coincidence
It was a strange coincidence that the power went out just as Diego began speaking.
coincidence + that-clause
Meeting Priya's old teacher after finding the class photo felt like more than a coincidence.
The two laboratories announced the same discovery on the same morning, an incredible coincidence.
Ravi bumped into his neighbour at a train station miles from home, and they called it a happy coincidence.
- fluke
more informal; suggests a lucky accident rather than any connection
- accident
broader; refers to anything happening without intention, not necessarily simultaneous
- happenstance
formal or literary; emphasises the role of chance
文法句型
coincidence + that-clause
用法筆記
Often used with 'pure', 'sheer', or 'strange' to emphasise the surprising nature of the event. A that-clause frequently follows the noun (e.g., 'It was a coincidence that...').
常見錯誤
2. the way in which events happen without any plan or deliberate cause, driven simp
the way in which events happen without any plan or deliberate cause, driven simply by luck or chance.
Leila met her cousin in Rome entirely by coincidence.
collocation: by coincidence
It is no coincidence that children who read a lot also tend to write well.
pattern: it is no coincidence that…
Nothing in Yusuf's career happened by coincidence, every step was carefully planned.
Hana and Tomás found their favourite bookshop by coincidence while exploring a side street.
Kofi does not believe in coincidence, he thinks everything happens for a reason.
文法句型
coincidence + that-clause
用法筆記
Primarily appears in the fixed phrase 'by coincidence' or the expression 'it is no coincidence that + clause'. This sense is uncountable — do not precede it with 'a' or 'an'.
常見錯誤
3. the condition in which several ideas, accounts, or positions match one another e
the condition in which several ideas, accounts, or positions match one another exactly, suggesting that they are in agreement.
There is a striking coincidence of opinion among the experts on this question.
collocation: coincidence of opinion
A coincidence of interests led the Huang and Chen families to launch a joint business.
collocation: coincidence of interests
Historians noted a close coincidence between the two accounts of the battle.
The report shows a remarkable coincidence of data from all three independent sources.
A coincidence of purpose united the different community groups around a single goal.
- correspondence
more neutral; suggests two things matching point by point
- agreement
broader; can apply to people or data being in harmony
- concurrence
formal; emphasises simultaneous agreement
- disagreement
a lack of match between opinions or accounts
- divergence
formal; a moving apart or difference
文法句型
coincidence of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Formal register; typically used in academic, legal, or analytical writing. The pattern 'coincidence of + noun' (e.g., coincidence of opinion, coincidence of interests) is the most common structure. Avoid using this sense in casual conversation.